The bright white blink from the camera鈥檚 flash caused 鈥楧uane鈥� to crouch low, and flinch with trepidation.
Donna Linke and Pauline Markle rubbed the muscular, two-year-old mastiff mix鈥檚 shoulders to reassure him that all was OK.
The two local seniors are akin to nurturing moms to many of the 15 dogs at the in Aldergrove.
And for good reason 鈥� for more than two decades, they鈥檝e been tireless and dedicated dog walkers with the -run shelter.
Markle, 77, and Linke, 75, spend five days of their week taking dogs for walks at the shelter.
Through the years they鈥檝e strolled alongside canines of all breeds and sizes, in all sorts of weather, from snow and ice, to pouring rain and searing heat.
They鈥檝e acquired 鈥渁 ton of skill鈥� with walking dogs since they began volunteering at the shelter, says LAPS executive director Jayne Nelson.
鈥淚 bet you they鈥檝e handled hundreds and hundreds of dogs,鈥� estimated Nelson. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been to every training session we鈥檝e ever offered, they do clicker training with the dogs鈥� because of their skill level and their experience, they鈥檙e able to give just that much more.鈥�
The two are driven by a love for animals and dogs in particular.
鈥淲e love dogs and they need walks,鈥� Linke said. 鈥淭hey need to be taken out of their kennels and (be) given a nice walk on a beautiful trail.鈥�
Markle said she feels empathy for the dogs who are suddenly placed in a kennel.
鈥淭hey don鈥檛 know why they鈥檝e been given up or abandoned,鈥� Markle said. 鈥淭hey need that one-on-one attention and that鈥檚 where we come in. We give them a bit of love and attention.鈥�
Markle said dogs love unconditionally. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e just so good-hearted, so loving, they just love any attention you can give them.鈥�
Their volunteerism has been invaluable at the shelter, says Nelson.
鈥淭hey are extraordinary women,鈥� Nelson said. 鈥淭hey are super dedicated and their longevity, to last 15 years, volunteering five days a week is extraordinary.鈥�
Nelson said LAPS 鈥渃ould not do what we do鈥� without the help of the society鈥檚 roughly 250 active volunteers.
鈥淟APS was started by volunteers and volunteers are the heart of our organization, from reception to animal care,鈥� Nelson said.
The efforts of volunteers such as Markle and Linke are integral in enriching the lives of the animals at the shelter, says Nelson.
鈥淚t鈥檚 stressful (for animals) to be in a shelter, no matter how good we try to make it,鈥� she said.
鈥淥ne of the best ways to reduce stress for dogs especially is to provide that social enrichment. They get that one-on-one time with people, they get to go out on a trail and go for a walk and in lots of cases they鈥檙e getting to go off-leash because it鈥檚 all fenced.鈥�
More volunteers are always needed at the shelter. Visit and click on the tab for volunteer opportunities.
